Billy Mitchell

Profile

Billy Mitchell joined Oldham from the local St Mary’s club originally as an amateur due to the fact that he was still only fifteen. On reaching his sixteenth birthday he duly signed professional forms, which began a seventeen year association with the club for this skilful centre.

Billy was held in high regard by the Oldham fans and his fellow professionals, so much so that when Terry O’Grady was selected for the 1954 tour to Australia and New Zealand, he made a point of saying how much Billy had helped to further his career. More praise came from ex Oldham wingman, Joe Warham who, when asked which was the best centre he had ever partnered, without hesitation replied, “Billy Mitchell, he was a real winger’s centre”.

After his debut at Widnes in 1938, he soon established himself in the first team and, but for the disruption of the Second World War, his already impressive total of over 300 games for the club would have been many more. It is interesting to note that when Billy first broke into the Oldham first team, his team mates included such old time favourites as Jack Read, Fred Ashworth and Ray Smith and by the time he played his last match against Salford on December 28th, 1954, the 1950’s wonder team was well on the way with Ganley, Davies, Jackson, Winslade etc.

Career Games

Opposition Venue Date Competition
Widnes v Oldham Away December 10, 1938 League Championship
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away December 24, 1938 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home December 29, 1938 League Championship
Batley v Oldham Away December 31, 1938 League Championship
Oldham v Batley Home January 2, 1939 League Championship
Castleford v Oldham Away January 7, 1939 League Championship
Oldham v Keighley Home January 14, 1939 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away February 25, 1939 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away April 29, 1939 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home September 16, 1939 Friendly
Oldham v Salford Home September 30, 1939 Lancashire League
Barrow v Oldham Away October 7, 1939 Lancashire League
Oldham v Wigan Home October 14, 1939 Lancashire League
Liverpool Stanley v Oldham Away October 21, 1939 Lancashire League
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home October 28, 1939 Lancashire League
Salford v Oldham Away November 4, 1939 Lancashire League
Leigh v Oldham Away November 11, 1939 Lancashire League
Oldham v St Helens Home November 18, 1939 Lancashire League
Widnes v Oldham Away November 25, 1939 Lancashire League
Oldham v Leigh Home December 2, 1939 Lancashire League
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1939 Lancashire League
Oldham v Liverpool Stanley Home December 26, 1939 Lancashire League
Wigan v Oldham Away February 24, 1940 Lancashire League
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home March 2, 1940 Lancashire Cup
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away March 9, 1940 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Warrington Home March 16, 1940 Lancashire League
Swinton v Oldham Away March 22, 1940 Lancashire League
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home March 23, 1940 Lancashire League
Warrington v Oldham Away March 25, 1940 Lancashire League
Halifax v Oldham Away March 30, 1940 Friendly
Wigan v Oldham Away April 6, 1940 Friendly
Oldham v Hunslet Home April 13, 1940 Friendly
Warrington v Oldham Away April 20, 1940 Friendly
Oldham v Salford Home April 27, 1940 Friendly
St Helens v Oldham Away May 4, 1940 Lancashire League
Oldham v Widnes Home May 11, 1940 Lancashire League
Oldham v Leeds Home May 18, 1940 Friendly
Oldham v Huddersfield Home June 1, 1940 Friendly
Liverpool Stanley v Oldham Away September 14, 1940 Lancashire League
Oldham v Wigan Home September 21, 1940 Lancashire League
Oldham v St Helens Home September 28, 1940 Lancashire League
Oldham v Leigh Home March 8, 1941 Friendly
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away March 15, 1941 Yorkshire Cup
Oldham v Halifax Home April 5, 1941 Friendly
Oldham v Dewsbury Home April 12, 1941 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Huddersfield v Oldham Away August 23, 1941 Friendly
Halifax v Oldham Away September 6, 1941 War Emergency League
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away September 13, 1941 War Emergency League
Oldham v Bradford Northern Home September 20, 1941 War Emergency League
Oldham v Castleford Home September 27, 1941 War Emergency League
Hull FC v Oldham Away October 4, 1941 War Emergency League
Keighley v Oldham Away October 11, 1941 War Emergency League
Oldham v Hull FC Home October 18, 1941 War Emergency League
York v Oldham Away October 22, 1941 Yorkshire Cup
Oldham v York Home November 1, 1941 Yorkshire Cup
Oldham v Bradford Northern Home November 8, 1941 Yorkshire Cup
Bradford Northern v Oldham Away November 15, 1941 Yorkshire Cup
Batley v Oldham Away November 22, 1941 War Emergency League
Featherstone Rovers v Oldham Away December 6, 1941 War Emergency League
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home December 13, 1941 War Emergency League
Hunslet v Oldham Away December 20, 1941 War Emergency League
Oldham v Halifax Home December 27, 1941 War Emergency League
Oldham v St Helens Home March 21, 1942 War Emergency League
Huddersfield v Oldham Away March 28, 1942 War Emergency League
Oldham v Wigan Home April 4, 1942 War Emergency League
Oldham v Leeds Home April 18, 1942 War Emergency League
Oldham v Castleford Home April 25, 1942 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Castleford v Oldham Away May 2, 1942 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Hunslet Home May 9, 1942 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Hunslet v Oldham Away May 16, 1942 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Leeds v Oldham Away May 23, 1942 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Leeds Home May 30, 1942 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Halifax Home October 24, 1942 Yorkshire Cup
Oldham v Huddersfield Home January 23, 1943 War Emergency League
Oldham v Keighley Home February 6, 1943 War Emergency League
Keighley v Oldham Away February 13, 1943 War Emergency League
St Helens v Oldham Away March 6, 1943 War Emergency League
Oldham v St Helens Home March 27, 1943 Rugby League Challenge Cup
St Helens v Oldham Away April 3, 1943 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Dewsbury Home April 10, 1943 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Wigan v Oldham Away September 25, 1943 War Emergency League
Warrington v Oldham Away November 17, 1945 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home March 22, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Hull FC Home March 29, 1947 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away April 4, 1947 League Championship
Keighley v Oldham Away April 5, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home April 7, 1947 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away April 12, 1947 League Championship
Featherstone Rovers v Oldham Away April 19, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Jim Sullivans Team Home April 22, 1947 Benefit Match
Oldham v Halifax Home April 26, 1947 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away May 10, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home May 17, 1947 League Championship
Belle Vue Rangers v Oldham Away May 24, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Belle Vue Rangers Home May 30, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Liverpool Stanley Home June 3, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Oldham Athletic Afc Home June 5, 1947 Friendly
Oldham v Warrington Home August 23, 1947 League Championship
Liverpool Stanley v Oldham Away August 30, 1947 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Salford Home September 15, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home September 20, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home September 27, 1947 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away October 4, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home October 11, 1947 League Championship
Castleford v Oldham Away October 18, 1947 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away November 8, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Castleford Home November 23, 1947 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away December 6, 1947 League Championship
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away December 20, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1947 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away December 26, 1947 League Championship
Belle Vue Rangers v Oldham Away December 27, 1947 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home January 1, 1948 League Championship
Liverpool Stanley v Oldham Away January 3, 1948 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home January 10, 1948 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away January 17, 1948 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away January 24, 1948 League Championship
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away February 7, 1948 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home February 14, 1948 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v St Helens Home February 28, 1948 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Leigh Home March 6, 1948 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home March 20, 1948 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away March 26, 1948 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away March 27, 1948 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away April 17, 1948 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home August 28, 1948 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away September 11, 1948 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away September 28, 1948 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Warrington Home October 2, 1948 League Championship
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home October 9, 1948 League Championship
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away October 16, 1948 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home October 23, 1948 League Championship
Batley v Oldham Away November 6, 1948 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home November 13, 1948 League Championship
Oldham v Castleford Home November 20, 1948 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away November 27, 1948 League Championship
Oldham v Australia Home December 4, 1948 Tour Match
Oldham v Wigan Home December 11, 1948 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home January 22, 1949 League Championship
Liverpool Stanley v Oldham Away January 29, 1949 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away February 5, 1949 League Championship
Oldham v Broughton Moor Home February 12, 1949 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Broughton Moor v Oldham Away February 19, 1949 Rugby League Challenge Cup
York v Oldham Away March 5, 1949 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Workington Town Home March 12, 1949 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home March 19, 1949 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Keighley Home March 26, 1949 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home April 11, 1949 League Championship
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away April 23, 1949 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away April 30, 1949 League Championship
Oldham v Invitation XIII Home May 4, 1949 Benefit Match
Oldham v Oldham Athletic Afc Home May 9, 1949 Charity Match
Wigan v Oldham Away August 27, 1949 Lancashire Cup
Wigan v Oldham Away October 15, 1949 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home October 22, 1949 League Championship
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home November 5, 1949 League Championship
Oldham v Castleford Home November 19, 1949 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away November 26, 1949 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home December 3, 1949 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home December 10, 1949 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away December 17, 1949 League Championship
Oldham v Liverpool Stanley Home December 24, 1949 League Championship
Hunslet v Oldham Away December 26, 1949 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away December 27, 1949 League Championship
Belle Vue Rangers v Oldham Away December 31, 1949 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home January 2, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home January 7, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home January 14, 1950 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away January 21, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Bradford Northern Home February 4, 1950 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Bradford Northern v Oldham Away February 11, 1950 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Whitehaven Home February 18, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Belle Vue Rangers Home March 4, 1950 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away March 11, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home March 18, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Castleford Home March 25, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Bramley Home April 1, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home April 7, 1950 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away April 8, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Bordeaux & Villeneuve Home April 10, 1950 Friendly
Castleford v Oldham Away April 19, 1950 League Championship
Featherstone Rovers v Oldham Away April 22, 1950 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away April 29, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home August 12, 1950 Law Cup
Whitehaven v Oldham Away August 19, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home August 21, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v York Home August 26, 1950 League Championship
Belle Vue Rangers v Oldham Away August 30, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home September 2, 1950 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home September 9, 1950 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away September 12, 1950 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Barrow Home September 23, 1950 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away September 25, 1950 Lancashire Cup
Bramley v Oldham Away September 30, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home October 7, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home October 10, 1950 Lancashire Cup
Keighley v Oldham Away October 14, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home October 21, 1950 League Championship
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away October 28, 1950 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away November 25, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Keighley Home December 2, 1950 League Championship
Liverpool Stanley v Oldham Away December 9, 1950 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1950 League Championship
York v Oldham Away December 26, 1950 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away January 6, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Belle Vue Rangers Home January 20, 1951 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away February 10, 1951 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Leeds Home February 17, 1951 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away February 24, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Workington Town Home March 17, 1951 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away April 14, 1951 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away April 16, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Bramley Home April 21, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home April 23, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home April 30, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home May 8, 1951 Benefit Match
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away August 11, 1951 Law Cup
Keighley v Oldham Away August 25, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Liverpool City Home August 28, 1951 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away September 1, 1951 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home September 4, 1951 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v St Helens Home September 15, 1951 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away September 22, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home September 24, 1951 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v New Zealand Home September 29, 1951 Tour Match
Oldham v Warrington Home October 6, 1951 League Championship
Liverpool City v Oldham Away October 13, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home October 16, 1951 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Leigh Home October 20, 1951 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away October 27, 1951 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away November 10, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home November 17, 1951 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away November 24, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home December 1, 1951 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away December 8, 1951 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away December 15, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Workington Town Home December 26, 1951 League Championship
Bradford Northern v Oldham Away December 29, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home January 3, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home January 5, 1952 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away February 2, 1952 League Championship
Hull FC v Oldham Away February 9, 1952 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Hull FC Home February 16, 1952 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home February 23, 1952 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away March 1, 1952 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Bramley v Oldham Away March 8, 1952 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away March 22, 1952 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away March 29, 1952 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away April 1, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Belle Vue Rangers Home April 5, 1952 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away April 11, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home April 12, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home April 14, 1952 League Championship
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away April 26, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v RL XIII Home May 6, 1952 Benefit Match
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home August 16, 1952 Law Cup
Oldham v Featherstone Rovers Home August 23, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home August 30, 1952 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Leeds Home September 6, 1952 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away September 10, 1952 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away September 13, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Australia Home September 15, 1952 Tour Match
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home September 20, 1952 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away September 24, 1952 Lancashire Cup
Leeds v Oldham Away September 27, 1952 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away October 4, 1952 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away October 18, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home October 25, 1952 League Championship
Bramley v Oldham Away November 1, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home November 8, 1952 League Championship
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away November 15, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home November 22, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Belle Vue Rangers Home December 6, 1952 League Championship
Bradford Northern v Oldham Away December 20, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1952 League Championship
Liverpool City v Oldham Away December 26, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home December 27, 1952 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away January 10, 1953 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away January 17, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Bramley Home January 31, 1953 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away February 7, 1953 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v St Helens Home February 14, 1953 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away February 21, 1953 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away February 28, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Bradford Northern Home March 7, 1953 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away March 14, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Workington Town Home March 21, 1953 League Championship
Featherstone Rovers v Oldham Away March 28, 1953 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away April 3, 1953 League Championship
Belle Vue Rangers v Oldham Away April 4, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Whitehaven Home April 6, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Liverpool City Home April 11, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home April 18, 1953 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away April 22, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Huddersfield Home May 16, 1953 Benefit Match
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away August 8, 1953 Law Cup
Oldham v Wigan Home August 15, 1953 League Championship
Huddersfield v Oldham Away August 22, 1953 League Championship
Bramley v Oldham Away August 26, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Leeds Home August 29, 1953 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away September 2, 1953 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away September 5, 1953 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Whitehaven Home September 7, 1953 Lancashire Cup
Leigh v Oldham Away September 12, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Liverpool City Home September 19, 1953 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away September 24, 1953 Lancashire Cup
Leeds v Oldham Away September 26, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Dewsbury Home October 10, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home October 24, 1953 League Championship
Dewsbury v Oldham Away October 31, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home November 7, 1953 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away November 14, 1953 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away December 12, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Workington Town Home December 19, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1953 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away December 26, 1953 League Championship
Hull FC v Oldham Away January 2, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home January 9, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Hull FC Home March 20, 1954 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Neutral April 3, 1954 Exhibition Match
Oldham v Warrington Home April 8, 1954 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away April 10, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Whitehaven Home April 12, 1954 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away April 16, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Belle Vue Rangers Home April 17, 1954 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away April 19, 1954 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away August 28, 1954 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away September 30, 1954 Lancashire Cup
Widnes v Oldham Away November 13, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Whitehaven Home November 20, 1954 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away November 27, 1954 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away December 11, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home December 28, 1954 League Championship